Total pages in book: 82
Estimated words: 78598 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78598 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
But why? Why, why, why, why, why! Why did nothing make sense?!
“If your father’s working with the Society, why would he cover up a murder caused by the Men of Honor? Cavendish told me it was so the sheriff could frame him for all of Ellis’s crimes, but the man was manipulating me. Everything out of his mouth was a lie. But if that wasn’t the reason, what was his motive for helping AgriProspects? Even if he didn’t know the Men of Honor were behind the company, he knew they wanted the diamonds. He had to.”
Cairo slid into the next lane, attention fixed on the road. “Why are you asking me? You’ll get your chance to ask him soon enough.”
“Like I haven’t gone down that road with him before? I badgered and pelted him for an explanation. He gave as much a shit about my tears as he did my anger. I’m coming because he’ll open up to you if anyone,” I admitted, “and I’ll be there when he does. But before all of that, I want to know what you think, Cairo. I can’t be the only one who made you feel betrayed in the last twelve hours.”
“Not that betrayal, de Souza.”
I bit back a sigh, knowing exactly why he was resorting to my last name.
“He’s not working for the Men of Honor,” Cairo said. “I’ve told you before. They’ve got nothing he wants.”
“They could’ve threatened you.”
“Making threats to a sheriff? That’s a ticket to prison, not untold riches.”
“We’re dealing with shadows who leave black let—” I shot up straight. “Black letters come to those wise enough to untangle the prose. Black letters come to men who remember who served them when. Black letters come with a price. Remember what you owe. Bow to the sacrifice.”
I gripped his wrist. “Your father used to mumble that when he was drunk.”
“Yeah. So?”
Warmth leached from my skin. “So, you weren’t the first person to recite that rhyme to me, Cairo. It was Cavendish. I overheard him saying it to himself once and I asked what it meant. He said...”
“What?” Cairo prompted when I stopped. “What did he say?”
“He said it was a reminder to repay your favors. That a man who doesn’t uphold his side of a deal is lower than dirt. A letter is a chance to make things right,” I said, echoing his words. “As long as they’re smart enough to heed the opportunity.
“Why would your father be repeating the same rhyme as a psychopath?”
Nothing showed on his face. “Once again, you’re asking the wrong person. I told you everything my father told me about that rhyme.”
“Cairo, the most obvious conclusion is that they were sending him letters threatening you. He didn’t know who it was. If he did, Davidson would be in a dark hole where he belongs. The Men of Honor turned him. Against his will, but all the same, they did.”
If I expected a loud and harsh denial, I didn’t get it.
“Your instinct here is to jump to the simplest conclusion,” Cairo said. “I don’t blame you, but there’s something obvious you’re missing.”
“Like what?”
A red light finally made him stop and look at me. “Who is in the Society of Sisters, de Souza?”
I frowned. “Your mothers. Nora, the mayor, the judge, the dean, and Legend’s mother.”
“Who told you this?”
“Zoey did. The night th-they—” I choked on the rest.
“There it is,” he said, inclining his head. “If they know who they are, they know all of our mothers have a weakness. Nora couldn’t give two shits about me, but she’d do anything for Paris. And Judge Stone, the mayor, and the dean aren’t about to shrug it off and sit on their asses if letters fell on their doorstep, threatening their sons’ lives.
“So if they’re going to haul out the threats and violence toward anyone, why would they start so low on the totem pole? Why not get the mayor and judge to repeal all the laws standing in their way? Why not blackmail Mrs. St. James for all the money in her bank account, so they can buy the town outright?”
My lips parted but nothing came out. Cairo had a scarily good point. There was a benefit to having a sheriff in your pocket, but why would you start there if you could also control a mayor, judge, a dean, and two of the wealthiest women in town?
“Because they don’t know who is in the Society.”
“You just said—”
I flapped a hand. “No, no. I’m not talking about those who attacked us that night. The people working with Zoey and Cavendish. I mean Steven Ellis and the Crows. They don’t know who they’re up against. You’re right, why waste time in this war with the five of you, when they could’ve gone straight for your mothers?
“They must have...” The pieces struggled to come together. “Ellis must’ve made him cover up for Clein and AgriProspects. Cavendish and Ellis broke off their partnership. Cavendish wanted you dead as punishment for your dad working for the wrong side, because he didn’t remember who served him when.”